The Ying and Yang of "The Lost and Longing"

Holding Absence and Alpha Wolf are both highly regarded among the new up and coming bands on Sharptone Records that have multiplied their fan bases in a snowball effect. Both bands carrying some of the best musicians in the scene today; performance and writing wise. Leading to a legendary collaboration tackling love, anger, existential feelings, self-worth and seppuku; all within its 15 minute time frame. Brief Recap: Alpha Wolf of Tasmania, Australia were a long time coming. Starting almost 10 years ago (2013), this rage fueled band pushed out balls to the wall releases in their 2015 EP and 2017 album, Mono, cycled through 2 vocalists before landing on Lochie Keough, a major staple in the scene today. With the release of a new EP (Fault, 2019) and a punishing album (A Quiet Place to Die, 2020), Alpha Wolf went from a band full of promise to...the "A-Ku-Da-Ma" band as their brand skyrocketed from there. Meanwhile, Holding Absence who are 10,000 miles north in Wales formed in 2015. The band came out swinging with a hot EP with fellow band, Loathe (This Is as One, 2018) along with a self-titled album (2019) full of infectious choruses as well as painting a cathartic picture with its atmosphere. From there, the band hit the ground running as they quickly gained fame from breakout singles, Gravity and Afterlife building to the next level, The Greatest Mistake of My Life in 2021. This album still feels like a masterclass of the genre; amplifying their debut album and working to become a trailblazer for succeeding acts. It was when these two bands snowballed into each other; leaving behind a collaboration of both of their worlds collided. The Lost

Two stand-alone singles and two collaborations with strong influence built between each other; all of which are built for the biggest amphitheaters on Earth. Once this EP starts, you are put in a claustrophobic gritty room at ground zero with Alpha Wolf. 60cm of Steel kicks off with Lochie belting at the audience to watch as he puts his faults and true feelings on display. "60 centimeters of steel in the stomach, I hate myself and you fucking love it". From here, the track checks off all of the boxes of what makes Alpha Wolf great. A wild two-step breakdown, guitars that ring as loud and abrasive as the lyrics, and drummer (Fogarty) uses drum fills that make your jaw drop. The track then dips into the realm of Holding Absence with Lucas Woodland commending the chorus with a Linkin Park hinged sound as the first time proving these bands really are a match made in heaven. The greatest asset to this collaboration is that the flow back and forth between these bands is flawless. Nothing either of these bands do feel out of character. While Hotel Underground is treated more as a stepping stone between their 2020 album and their next LP, there is full on rage throughout stuttering guitar strings, venomous lyrics, and 0s....0s everywhere. Analyzing these two tracks for Alpha Wolf, this band is here to stay with a bag full of tricks that will spin you around, slap you in the face while the only response you have is "Thank You". The Longing

If there was anything to note from this EP is that Holding Absence is your guide transcending from the dark and gritty atmosphere where Alpha Wolf left you thinking "It's all pain, there is no hope." Aching Longing comes in with high dissonance, a "re-introduction" to show you a path to take and start over. When turning this record over to Holding Absence, the band rejuvenates the listener with one of their best choruses; big enough to headline a festival of people. "Take my life away; and start again, start again, start again; Nothing seems to sway; this aching longing I've been feeling" Lucas' efforts here elevate this song showing the best of what these two bands have to offer. There is still some Alpha Wolf infused in here with fast guitars, pummeling drums (Green), and a breakdown that booms with Lochie at the mic. So where do we go from here? We go to Coffin, which feels like a book end to this short and impressive track list. Here, we see where Holding Absence left off with their previous album, the continuation here is very natural and exciting. Swaying vocals, (another) stadium sized chorus, subtle piano keys that fill an entire room, pulsating drums that come with an identity as it slowly takes over the song. This final entry builds up as you levitate to the sky with Lucas still singing his ass off at that piano up to the final crescendo where you then float back down and safely touch the ground. This is where The Lost and Longing comes to a close as the airy production leaves you above ground from where you started almost feeling whiplash from the trip wanting to go back and take it in again. This EP offers the best of what the future of rock and metal has while still making you want more from both of these bands, this is an essential listen for the year. 100% - Josh Staszczyk

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